The Festival of the Photograph: An Extraordinary Event Created by Photographers for Photographers

Share Article

Board of Advisors announces the photographic artists selected for the Festival's "Shots" event.

By carrying on the traditions Nick established in his backyard over the last twenty years, the Festival of the Photograph provides a venue for the legendary photographers of today to support, guide and inspire the next generation of photographic artists, as well as to welcome and engage all people who love photography and the image.

Charlottesville, VA (Vocus)April 26, 2007 -

The inaugural Festival of the Photograph, 3 days of peace, love and photography scheduled for June 7-9, 2007 in Charlottesville, Virginia, promises to be more than simply an exhibition of amazing work.

The Festival's roots lie in the backyard gathering of photographers, which has been hosted by National Geographic photographer Michael "Nick" Nichols for the last twenty years. The Festival, while larger in scope, will remain true to the intimate and informal campfire spirit that inspired those gatherings, providing a non-commercial forum for world-renowned artists and photojournalists to mix with young and aspiring photographic artists to discuss their work, to trade ideas and to provoke creativity.

On Friday evening, June 8, one of the Festival's major events, "Shots," will take over the Ix Warehouse Space in Charlottesville's Warehouse District. A direct descendant of the slide show at Nick's annual gathering, "Shots" will feature a huge party and a screening of the work of an incredible group of young and emerging photographers from around the world selected by the Festival's Board of Advisors.

But the Festival goes even a step further. YOURSPACE, which will run for the duration of the festival, is a first-of-its-kind interactive exhibit designed by University of Virginia architects where festival attendees can exhibit and project their own work for others to see!

Nick, the co-executive director of the Festival, said, "This festival is for people who love photography and the image, but you don't have to have any membership to come to this. You just have to show up and have a great time."

Jessica Nagle, co-executive director of the Festival along with Nick, added, "By carrying on the traditions Nick established in his backyard over the last twenty years, the Festival of the Photograph provides a venue for the legendary photographers of today to support, guide and inspire the next generation of photographic artists, as well as to welcome and engage all people who love photography and the image."

Indeed, the Festival will transform Charlottesville's historic downtown area itself into a living image, an immersive experience with shows projected virtually everywhere you turn -- high in trees, on the sides of buildings, in storefronts and, of course, in traditional galleries and exhibition areas.

The project's Board of Advisors includes: Melissa Harris, Editor-in-Chief, Aperture Magazine; Kathy Ryan, Photo Editor, The New York Times Magazine; and David Griffin, Director of Photography at National Geographic Magazine.